ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Head coach Steve Forbes reacts against the Florida Gators during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Head coach Steve Forbes reacts against the Florida Gators during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The agreement will extend the length of Forbes’ current deal through the 2022-23 season, while elevating his annual base salary to $400,000, his external relations stipend to $50,000, and keeping his yearly retention bonus at $200,000. In addition, Forbes also keeps incentives from his original contract, which includes bonuses for accomplishments such as a conference regular season or tournament championship, NCAA appearances, and wins over major programs.

The new contract also increases Forbes’ buyout to $500,000 if he were to leave the university in the future. The full contract is available by clicking on the PDF attached to this release.

“It is a true pleasure to work with my friend Steve Forbes,” Carter said. “His leadership and direction of ETSU men’s basketball is writing history in our tradition that will be remembered for decades. I look forward to many more outstanding memories with Coach Forbes, as this new contract solidifies a tremendous partnership between him and East Tennessee State University.”

Forbes said he was grateful for the support and confidence shown to him by ETSU’s leadership.

“This is an extraordinary effort by Dr. (Brian) Noland and Scott Carter to provide me and my family with an incredible commitment to our future at ETSU,” Forbes said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be the head coach at ETSU. I look forward to continuing our program’s success both on and off the court in partnership with my staff and our fans who make this job so great.”

Forbes and the Bucs currently hold a two-game lead in the Southern Conference standings and just recently matched the school record for consecutive wins at 16. In his three years at ETSU, the Bucs have won more games than any other program in the SoCon with 74 victories, and have made back-to-back postseason trips, which includes the program’s 10th trip all-time to the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Bucs will wrap up their 2017-18 regular season with three straight home games in league play this week, beginning Tuesday night as they host The Citadel at 7 p.m. inside Freedom Hall.